Following Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the capital derby on Sunday, manager Jose Mourinho delivered a scathing assessment of the match officials. He appeared at his post-match news conference holding printed photographs of two first-half tackles, which he presented as evidence of officiating failure.
Mourinho expressed outrage that Atletico defender Cristian Romero avoided a red card for an alleged stamp on Jude Bellingham, while also highlighting a aggressive challenge by Lee Kang-in on Federico Valverde. The Real Madrid manager lamented that the match could have been different had those decisions gone their way.
Valverde managed to finish the game despite the contact, but the club later confirmed he had suffered severe trauma to his left ankle and would require further medical evaluation. Mourinho argued that had the officials maintained proper control, his team might have faced an opponent reduced to nine men.
The match turned decisively in the second half when Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen was shown a red card for a foul on Giuliano Simeone. The resulting penalty was converted by Alejandro Grimaldo, and Jonathan David extended Atletico’s lead to 2-0 shortly after. Antonio Ruediger later scored a header for Real, but the visitors could not complete a comeback.
Mourinho took particular aim at referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias, describing the 41-year-old as lacking the necessary international experience to handle the intense atmosphere of a high-stakes derby. He suggested the official struggled under the pressure, which he characterized as having an intense, 80s-style quality.
Addressing the broader competitive landscape, Mourinho remarked that while he did not want to claim the match was orchestrated, he found the officiating deeply suspect. He stated his hope that the team would be granted a level playing field moving forward as they chase league leaders Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone offered a measured response to the criticism, emphasizing that figures in football must exercise caution and respect when making public remarks. He declined to engage directly with Mourinho’s complaints, choosing instead to praise his squad’s disciplined performance.
Simeone noted that his team controlled the derby both when at full strength and after the tactical adjustments necessitated by the flow of the game. He characterized the victory as a positive step in Atletico’s ongoing development.
The result sees Atletico Madrid move to second in the La Liga standings with 16 points. They currently sit five points behind Barcelona and one point clear of both Real Madrid and Real Betis. The report also notes that waving images of two first-half tackles as he accused the officials of losing control in Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Atle, jose Mourinho needed only a sheet of paper to deliver his verdict on La Liga’s Madrid derby. The report also notes that “We could skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here,” Mourinho said, holding up the images in what was the start of a near five-minute rant. The report also notes that it added, the midfielder will undergo further tests. The report also notes that the difficulties we’ve faced since the sending-off: 11 against 10.
